In mammals, leptin and tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) are prominent interacting adipokines mediating appetite control and insulin sensitivity. While TNF pleiotropically functions in immune defense and cell survival, leptin is largely confined to signaling energy stores in adipocytes. Knowledge about the function of avian leptin and TNF is limited and they are absent or lowly expressed in adipose, respectively. Employing radiation-hybrid mapping and FISH-TSA, we mapped TNF and its syntenic genes to chicken chromosome 16 within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region. This mapping position suggests that avian TNF has a role in regulating immune response. To test its possible interaction with leptin within the immune system and beyond, we compared the transcription patterns of TNF, leptin and their cognate receptors obtained by meta-analysis of GenBank RNA-seq data. While expression of leptin and its receptor (LEPR) were detected in the brain and digestive tract, TNF and its receptor mRNAs were primarily found in viral-infected and LPS-treated leukocytes. We confirmed leptin expression in the duodenum by immunohistochemistry staining. Altogether, we suggest that whereas leptin and TNF interact as adipokines in mammals, in birds, they have distinct roles. Thus, the interaction between leptin and TNF may be unique to mammals.

• MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• duodenum metabolismus   MeSH
• kur domácí genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• leptin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• leptinové receptory metabolismus   MeSH
• mapování chromozomů * MeSH
• mapování pomocí radiačních hybridů MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• metafáze genetika   MeSH
• receptory TNF genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese * MeSH
• savci genetika   MeSH
• signální transdukce * MeSH
• syntenie genetika   MeSH
• TNF-alfa genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• trávení * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH